Great job! The next time you do this, it should go more easily since you'll know what to expect and be ready for it. As you discovered, being anxious to plant can cause more work and setbacks to your smothering efforts. I just started a new spot like this Monday. Drought killed the grass "sort of" in one spot in the front yard and it's never grown back, so I used newspaper - about 8-10 sheets thick, overlapping by at least 6", covered with mulch. I'm not going to dig into it until next year, just set potted annuals there for now, then a big pile of leaves in the fall.

Also as you've discovered, without a barrier/border around the edges, separating grass from bed, it's an ongoing chore keeping the grass out of the bed. I'll use anything I can find for that, but try to stick to more attractive materials, like bricks, in the front yard.

Just be glad you don't have bahiagrass!

I've had fairly good luck sinking a mowing edge of 6" wide pavers halfway in the ground. (They are 2" thick.) The bermuda will eventually go over and under it, but it certainly slows it down a lot.

Zelenkabach--I loved your story. I could have written it. My experience has been exactly the same as yours! And I loved when you talked about it having an admirably strong will to live! I have said that exact thing. Also, that if I had to come back in my next life as a weed, I'd come back as a plug of Bermuda grass! LOL I have loved the cardboard and newspaper smother method, covered with my mulch. It doesn't stop the grass, but it's so fun and gratifying to pull a piece that has traveled under the newspaper 3 feet or so, gently holding the smothered in place. . . pulls out so nicely! Or it's even better if it grows OVER the mulch--that's REALLY easy! Doesn't take much to make a gardener happy, eh? Best.

If you aren't opposed to sprays in the garden, you can keep the Bermuda grass out of your established beds with a grass-specific herbicide that kills grass only and not ornamental plants. Poast is the one I have used, but I think Ortho also makes a Grass-Be-Gone. Edge around the grass you don't want killed so that the absorbed spray doesn't get to the roots, then spray the grass growing where you don't want it. The spray won't hurt your shrubbery and flowers. It makes it possible for gardeners to coexist with Bermuda Grass!

Although I am not a total purist with organic gardening, I'd say I'm on my way! :) The only chemicals we've used since I moved to my new yard and garden 18 months ago are tick and flea poison in the back yard only (applied twice a year), and Deep Woods Off on ourselves. Which is two too many chemicals to suit me. . . but with two nearby neighbors coming down with tick fever in the past two years, we are fairly paranoid about ticks--and even with our safeguards, occasionally have ticks after a day of gardening. Even with the tick/flea pellets, I worry about the birds and pollinators. . . I'd hope to be able to discontinue the application of those in the future. Meanwhile, I'm having "fun" with the cardboard smothering! Happy gardening to you all!

I never use insecticides, but do use preemergent herbicide or occasionally very specific herbicides that kill grass or nut grass (nut sedge) in the planting beds.

Good for you! It's just that I hate the tick and flea killer SO much, I won't put one single more chemical on. . . SO. Do any of you out there have ideas for organic tick and flea repellent for an acre of lawn?

PS: Maybe this is a "pick your poison" sort of deal! LOL

We haven't had a problem with ticks or fleas getting on us despite a number of trees and shrubs in out yard. We have so many squirrels and chipmunks, plus a few 'possums, raccoons, and rabbits, that we'd never be able to get rid of all the fleas in the yard. We just treat our dogs and cat so they won't bring them in the house. You might want to start a separate thread for this subject.

Ornamec and Over the Top will also kill grass without hurting anything else. Cardboard will not kill Bermuda..that's wishful thinking. I don't dare step outside without dousing in Off..the mosquitoes are horrendous, but my sweet 'possum friends take care of all the ticks. fleas are miserable and cannot be kept out of the yard..treat your pets consistently with flea and heartworm prevention.